Finite disturbance effect on the stability of a laminar incompressible wake behind a flat plate

Abstract

An integral method is used to investigate the interaction between a two-dimensional, single frequency finite amplitude disturbance in a laminar, incompressible wake behind a flat plate at zero incidence. The mean flow is assumed to be a non-parallel flow characterized by a few shape parameters. Distribution of the fluctuation across the wake is obtained as functions of those mean flow parameters by solving the inviscid Rayleigh equation using the local mean flow. The variations of the fluctuation amplitude and of the shape parameters for the mean flow are then obtained by solving a set of ordinary differential equations derived from the momentum and energy integral equations. The interaction between the mean flow and the fluctuation through Reynolds stresses plays an important role in the present formulation, and the theoretical results show good agreement with the measurements of Sato & Kuriki (1961).